Rotary engine



Nu. 6l5,597. Patanted Dec. 6, I898. J. C. WALKER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed May 4, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed m 4, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. .6|5,597. Patented Dec. 6, I898. J. C. WALKER.

ROTARY ENGINE. (Applicafion filed May 4, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. WALKER, OF WACO, TEXAS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part OLE Letters Patent No. 615,597, dated December 6, 1898.

Application filetiMay 4, 1898. Serial No. 679,659. (No model.)

* 'To all whom/it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. WALKER, residing at tVaco, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention, which relates generally to that class of rotary engines having concentric pistons, particularly refersto improvements on the engine mechanism disclosed in my PatentsNos.515,63l, 611,535, and 611,536, the primary purpose of this invention being to provide certain improvements in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts constituting the complete engine,whereby the same is simplified and rendered the more stable and elfective in its operation.

This invention also comprehends certain improvements in the steam-cut-off-valve-opcrating devices, whereby to render them capable of use in combination with a sliding abut ment-operating mechanism embodying the same general features of construction as those disclosed in my other patents referred to, or with gravity cut-offs automatically operating within the steam or piston chamber.

In its subordinate features this invention embodies the peculiar combination and detail arrangement of parts such as will be first described in detail and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved rotary engine, parts being broken away to the more clearly illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of thecut-oifvalve-operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the reversing de-.

vices hereinafter referred to. Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the valve-operating shifting disks. Fig. 6 is a section on the line a a, Fig. 6. Fig. 7 is a view of a modified construction of my improved engine mechanism. Fig. 8 is a section taken practically on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, by letters of reference, 13 B B" B represent the cylinders; A A A A the bore or steam-chambers thereof; (b a a a ment of the operating-levers is somewhat different,such valve-operating mechanism being the same for each cylinder, the several mechanisms being, however, so arranged as to operate alternately, as before.

As the several slide-valve-operating meohanisms are constructed and operate alike, I shall describe one set in detail only and refer to the others hereinafter in a general way.

Each slide-operating mechanism comprises a disk Z), fixedly secured to the shaft 0, provided with a radially-projecting cam 17, and the peripheral edge of such disk operates within a narrow casing 19*, secured to the side of the cylinder, in which is held for vertical reciprocation a carriage or frame comprising a sector-piece b carrying friction-rollers 12 at the ends, which engage the side walls of the casing 12 and the rod b secured to the sector-piece b braced by the side arms b and having its upper end pivotally joined to a straddle-frame 0, having side arms 0 c fixedly secured to a sleeve c held to rock on a short shaft 0, journaled in the bracket 0 and having its outer end pivotally secured to the lower end of the lift-links c 0 connected to the cross-head c of the lift-rod a secured to the slide-abutment, as clearly shown.

So far as described it will be readily observed that by means of the lever devices and the disks 1) the several slide-abutments will be elevated at predetermined intervals by the rods 6 and drop down by gravity when the disk members I) pass from under the sector members b As before stated, the several abutment slide operating devices are arranged to operate quarterly, the purpose being to subject the axle to a direct impact at four radial points, the disks 1) for the cylinders B B being so set and fixed on the main shaft 0, and the two'disks d and r so set and fixed on the shaft 5 that the former will operate the abutment-valves and the latter the inlet-valves, so that the shaft 0 shall be sub ject to impulses of live steam at every quarterturn four times in each revolution.

The steam-cut-off-valve-operating device the peculiar construction of which forms the essential feature of this invention embodies in its generic features the diskoperated valveshifting devices disclosed in the other Patents Nos. 611,535 and 611,536, heretofore referred to.

In the present construction the cut-offvalve-operating devices embody the shaft e vertically disposed between the cylinders B B the lower end of which has a stepped and ball bearing on the bracket X, while the upper end is braced in the cross member m. The lower end of the shaft 6 carries a gear 6, which meshes with the drive-gear 6, while on the upper end of such shaft is mounted a ball-governor, consisting of the ball-rods 10 hinged to the crown-piece w and carrying the balls to, and the link-rods connecting the arms Q02 with the collar 10, reciprocally held on the shaft 6 6 indicates a rack-bar secured to and held pendent from the collar w, the lower end of 1 which is guided in the bracket 6 on the shaft by the loose ring member r e This bar is movable through slots in a pair of horizontally-disposed disks 7" and d,

disposed one above the other and each secured to the shaft e to turn therewith. These disks carry governor-adjusted valve-shifting devices of similar construction and operating alike.

The disk 01 has a shaft a, carrying a pinion a held to mesh with the rack-bar e and a larger cog-wheel e held to mesh with the lower rack-face of an annulus d, rotatable in a suitable seat or guideway d on the upper face of the disk, the disk 1* having a similar shaft 0, having gears r r for transmitting motion to the rack annulus or ring r Each disk has an annular flange and a fixed cam r d, forming a part thereof, in the nature of a -shaped inwardly-projecting member, the purpose of which is to alternately engage the pull-rods 0 r which connect with the cut-off valves for the cylinders B B and the rods (1 d", which connect with the cut-off Valves of the cylinders 13 and B, the rods 0 and 1- which are operated by the upper disk, having angle members o r", with which the flange and cam r are adapted to engage, the free end of the rod r having pivotal connection with the crank r of the rock-lever 1' carrying valve 1" while the free end of rod 0 is connected to the crank 0 of the rocklever 0 carrying the valve 0 for the cylinder B. The rods d cl are likewise connected to the rods 01 d, carrying, respectively, the valves d d for the cylinders B B.

1 indicates a cut-off extended radially from the post 6 to which it is pivotally attached This cut-off is fixedly connected to the upper face of the annulus r, and has its outer portion projecting beyond such annulus and terminating in a double cam (V-shaped) end, the bearing-faces of which are inclined reversely to the cam r fixedly formed on the disk r. The under side of the cut-off has a clasp 0, (see Fig. 6,) which extends on the slot beneath the rim o loosely, so as not to interfere with the sliding of the cut-off, but holds it in position against the thrust of the end of the inletvalvelevers r and 0. (See Fig. 3.) The lower disk 02 is also provided with a radial cut-off 61 which operates like the cut-off r and is adjusted by the operation of the shaft 6 So far as described it will be readily seen that as the shaft 6 is driven from the main drive-shaft C the two disks d and 0 will rotate therewith, and in consequence-the arms 0 r d 01 will be intermittently drawn in by the fixed cam members of the said disks d and r, and thereby open the inlet-valves and such arms 0 r d d be moved back by the cut-offs r d to close the respective valves connected therewith, and by reason of engagement with the adjustable cut-offs a (Z the length of time in which the valves of the several cylinders B B B B are held open depending on the correlation of the movable cut-offs with the fixed cams on the disks '1 and d, which is dependent upon the speed of the engine. Thus should the engine have an accelerated speed the governor-arms 10 will be swung outwardly proportionately, and in consequence raise the rack-bar e", and thereby cause the annular rack members to which the cut-offs are attached to move such cutoffs toward the fixed cam, and thereby shut off supply of steam quickly to decrease the speed of the engine, it being understood that in case the engine slows up the arms 10 will be caused to contract, and thereby operate the rack e and the annular rack-rings d and r in a reverse direction to move the cut-offs r d away from the fixed, cams and proportionately lengthen the time of feed of the live steam to the several cylinders and provide a positive, accurate, and uniform means for effecting the steam-supply and governing the speed of the engine.

It will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1 that the mechanism for shifting the abutment-slides and the means for operating the steam-cutoff devices are relatively so ar* ranged that the slides will be properly lowered immediately after the pistons pass under them, so as to provide an abutment for the live steam which enters at the proper time between such abutment and the piston.

The operation of my improved engine is best explained as follows, reference being particularly had to cylinders E and B When the shaft C is in motion, the disk members I), through their projections Z), will at a proper time engage the crescent members I) of the lift-rods b and elevate them, and thereby rock the frames to which they connect, which in turn lift the abutment-slides, which slides are held to their elevated position during the engagement of the members I) with the crescent Z73, which provides ample time for the IIO piston to under the abutment-slide, the relation of the members 13 and I) being such that as soon as the piston passes under the said slides such abutment-slides will imme diately drop by gravity, it being understood that spring devices (not shown) may be pro vided to assist such downward movement of the abutment-slides. During this operation the shaft 6 carries the disks d and 7' through their cams r d which are alternately arranged to move the arms r 0 d d to rock the levers d d r 0 so as to open up the steam-. ports, which are held open until the radiallydisposed cut-ofl's engage them and move them back to their closing position, it being understood that as the cut-offs are governed in their set position by the automatic governor mechanism heretofore described a uniform and regular feed of the steam to the cylinders is maintained each quarter-turn of the shaft 0.

It is manifest the several cylinders B B B B have suitable exhausts arranged in advance of the abutment-slides for the exhaust of the spent-steam charge before the piston passes under the abutmentslides, as shown raise, it being obvious that the instant the rear edge 12 of the piston passes the lower end of the abutment-valve a such valve will fall back by gravity and close the bore, it being held down by the live steam, which, owing to the set of the valves 0 and their operating mechanism, enters the cylinder-bore the instant the valve 0. drops, the thrust of such steam on the abutment and the back of piston serving to impel such piston and the disk D rapidly forward. This latter arrangement of the abutment simplifies the constructionof my complete machine, as it dispenses with the intermediate connections operated by the shaft 0 for elevating the abutment.

In mypresent form of engine mechanism the drive-shaft C is connected with a supplemental driveshaft by means of suitable reversing mechanism, the construction of which is best illustrated in Fig. 5, and comprises the shaft LEG, journaled in suitable bearings 00 and provided with a non-circular portion a on which is mounted an endwise-movable clutch-sleeve a, operated by means of the shifting-lever 00 having beveled gears 50 51: at the opposite ends adapted to be alternately at E X in Fig. 2.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shownmy improved valve-operating devices in connection with gravity abutment-valve mechanisms set to their open position by direct contact with the piston. In such form of mechanisms A indicates the cylinder-bore, P the piston, and

a the abutment-valve, which is hinged at (1, the hinge edge being fitted to the socket to permit the body of the valve a fitting firmly on the seat a, formed in the crown of the bore A, said valve being so adjusted that when raised by the passing piston it will 00- cupy the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. 1 indicates the abutment cut in the sides of bore A, on which a rests steam-tight when it is down, as shown in Fig. 8. (r indicates a cut-away portion on the bore A for the free lift of the valve (t2. 0 indicates the inlet-ports, which are arranged directly over the valve a over which the rotary valves 0 operate and which have their crank-arms 0 connected with the levers d o r 61 which levers are operated the same as the corresponding levers shown in Figs. 1 and 21 The cylinder-disks I) revolve between the two half-sections of each cylinder and snugly close the intervening annular space, (indicated by a a.) Each of the disks d has an integral or attached piston P, having afront beveled impact edge 19, so inclined as to first engage the lower edge of the abutment 03.

The exhaust b of each cylinder is so located in relation to the abutment valve a? that the rear edge of the piston will be passing the outer edge of the port as such piston begins to lift the abutment, whereby to in stantly release the steam as the abutment is engaged and to relieve such abutment from all back pressure, the piston having then only the weight of the abutment-valve a to From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete operation and advantages of my improvements will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine of the character described, in combination with the inlet-port and the cut-off valves therefor; of mechanism for operating such valves comprising a drive-shaft geared with the engine-shaft; a disk mounted on the drive-shaft to rotate therewith, having a fixed cam to move the inlet-valves in one direction; a ball-governor mounted on the drive-shaft 5 a cut-01f member mounted on the disk to rotate therewith, but having movement independent thereof, said cut-off member operating to move the valve in a direction reverse to that of the fixed cam on the disk and a rack or pinion mechanism operated by the shifting of the ball-governor held to engage with and shift the cnt-oif member, as specified.

a for connection with the annular rack-rings and adapted to shift such rings in reverse directions by the variable speed of the engine, and cut-0E levers secured to the said rings, all being arranged substantially as shown and described.

3. In an engine as described; the combination of the valve operating levers, the engineshaft; the shaft e geaI-ed therewith, the ballgovernor devices, the verticallyreciprocal rack e", connected to such governor devices,

the disks (Z and '1, said disks having annular rack-ring members 7' cl, the shafts e 'rflvconnecting such members 7* cl, with the rack 6 and. the cut-ofis 7' 62 secured to such members r d, all being arranged substantially as shown and described.

JAMES C. \VALKER.

Witnesses:

O. I. BATTLE, JNo. T. BATTLE. 

